Man pepper-sprayed by cops was indicted on assault charges

Paul Starosciak of Flemington has been charged with assaulting Hillsborough police officers.Somerset County Prosecutor's Office

HILLSBOROUGH — A 60-year-old man was indicted recently on various charges that allege he punched and kicked officers while they tried to make a motor vehicle stop last month, according to a report on MyCentralJersey.com.

Paul Starosciak, of Flemington, was indicted by a jury on charges of third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree eluding and third-degree resisting arrest in connection with the Jan. 8 incident, the report said.

As previously reported by NJ.com, police pepper-sprayed Starosciak and smashed in his car window after he threatened, punched and kicked them during an on-and-off vehicle pursuit.

At about 4 p.m. Jan. 8, officers attempted to stop Starosciak, who was driving a gray 2007 Infiniti on Route 206 near the Montgomery Township border, according to Hillsborough Township Police Lt. Mark Besser.

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Starosciak did not stop when an officer activated his lights and sirens in an unmarked car, so the officer followed Starosciak until his vehicle came to a stop south of Mountainview Road, Besser said.

When the officer approached the vehicle and demanded Starosciak turn over his credentials, Starosciak threatened to beat up the officer, the lieutenant said. The officer then opened the car door and attempted to grab the keys, and Starosciak punched him, Besser said.

When the officer told Starosciak he was under arrest, Starosciak refused, and the officer pepper-sprayed him, the lieutenant said. The officer again attempted to retrieve the vehicle's keys, but Starosciak kicked him, closed the door and drove off, Besser said.

Additional Hillsborough Police officers joined in the chase down Route 206, where Starosciak's vehicle got stuck in traffic at the intersection of Amwell Road, he said.

Officers surrounded the vehicle, but Starosciak still refused to get out of his car, Besser said. Officers then broke the car's window to reach Starosciak, but when they were removing him from the car, Starosciak hit another officer, multiple times, Besser said.

Starosciak was eventually removed from the vehicle and charged with eluding, two counts of aggravated assault and resisting arrest. At the time, bail was set at $15,000.